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Thank you for joining us & participating in the 2015 Moondance, which featured the very best of indie films from the US and around the world, as well as our fabulously productive networking parties & events. You were entertained, encouraged and inspired at this annual world-class event, in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, USA, and helped us celebrate the 16th annual Moondance International Film Festival!

Being fearless & bold, Moondance is a unique, one-of-a-kind and a truly international film festival where monotonous conformity is considered mediocrity, and where talent, extravagant individualism, innovation, independence and experimentation is encouraged, awarded and applauded!

And thanks again for all those many great hugs!

We definitely made a BIG Splash!

~ Elizabeth English

Moondance Founder & Executive Director

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The 2015 Moondance PHOTO ALBUM will be online soon!

Please send us up to 5 of your best Moondance 2015 photos in .jpg & labeled as to who is in the image, to: director@moondancefestival.com, with 2015 MIFF PIX in the subject line.

We had a very welcome surprise visit from Hollywood film director Tom Shadyac (Bruce Almighty, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Patch Adams), after the screening of his feature documentary film, “I Am”. He gave a fascinating & well-attended TOMversation Q&A to an enthusiastic audience, and generously participated in the productive networking & photo ops afterwards. Tom was honored to be presented with the coveted Moondance Calypso Award by Elizabeth.

ABOUT THE MOONDANCE CALYPSO AWARD:This award is to encourage a spirit of enterprise toward improving social issues, and in saving the environment, habitats and wildlife by dedicated and creative individuals from around the world. The award is presented annually to the person who expands knowledge of our world, seeks to improve the quality of all life on the planet, and actively contributes to the betterment of humankind.

ATTENTION MOONDANCE 2015 WINNERS WHO WERE

NOT AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY:

Congratulations! If you won an award, but could not attend the event, and want to receive your Moondance Star Award, Award certificate, & a 2015 Moondance festival program, please use this option to pay only for postage to send it to you: AWARDS POSTAGE

FILMMAKERS: Moondance International Film Festival is now an IMDb Qualifying Festival, granting all eligible film submissions (via Withoutabox), a fast-tracked title page on IMDb.com!

MOONDANCERS WRITE US!

• “Volunteering for your Moondance festival this year was a real treat! Thank you for the wonderful opportunity you provide all these creative minds.” ~ Katy Palmer

• “Thank you very much for holding that Festival and to stand by those values you promote with it. It is with people like you that we make the world a better place to live. Sur ce, je vous dis à bientôt!” ~ Simon-Gabriel Auger, Composer

• “We are so happy, excited, and mostly so grateful to you for hearing us and considering our request… And also for going above and beyond in helping us promote the film and its “second coming”!!! You are wonderful. That’s really great news, and we really feel like the trip is worth it.” ~ Neeti Fidurko,director, “Who Would Jesus Date?”

• “Thank you again for your incredible support of our short dance film, Red Earth Calling. We thoroughly enjoyed being part of the 2015 Moondance International Film Festival. You featured an interesting mix of high-quality works and provided a lovely forum for conversation and exchange. Receiving two awards from the festival proved a wonderful end to our stay in Boulder.” ~ Jillian Harris

• “Congratulations on another successful Moondance Festival. My bag was packed and I was ready to attend, but nature being unpredictable, my beautiful daughter didn’t deliver her baby boy until September 9th. Nothing short of a first grandchild, though, could have kept me away! Next year, I plan on being there, early.” ~ Janice MacDonald, 2015 winner for “The Sock Opera” musical screenplay

• Refuse single-use plastics. When you can, don’t accept plastic bags in supermarkets, shops or local markets, or at least re-use them. There are many practical, small cloth bags that you can now carry in your purse and unfold very easily to hold your purchases. Instead of plastic bottles for your juice, soft drinks or water, try to carry around a reusable bottle. There are plenty of attractive options.

• Be selective with your fish. There is plenty of information available about what species are endangered, which ones are enduring unnecessarily painful deaths (such as sharks for shark fin soup), and what fishing practices have a lethal impact on the ecosystem of the oceans (such as trawling). And there are restaurants, shops that are making sure that what they serve or provide as catch is done with more attention to the conservation of the ocean and its creatures. Read up this information and on the suppliers of your food. Consume with care. Don’t purchase coral or wild-caught fish for your home aquarium.

• Walk, bike, run. Find alternative means of transportation. Or alternate the days that you use the car. Your body will appreciate the effort as much as the environment. The extra carbon dioxide contributes to ocean acidification and global warming, which is a major threat to coral and the many creatures of the ocean.

“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide(French author, 1947 Nobel Prize for literature)

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“When one door closes, another one opens. But we often look so long upon the closed door, that we do not see the one which has opened.” ~ Helen Keller

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“Apathy can only be overcome by enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first, an ideal which takes the imagination by storm, and second, a definite, viable plan for carrying that ideal into practice.” ~Arnold Toynbee

Moondancers are part of an amazing worldwide community; a unique collaboration of multi-talented writers, film score composers, filmmakers and audiences. The Moondance mission is to entertain, inform, inspire, encourage and educate. We honor those artists who, through their creative work, actively increase awareness, provide multiple viewpoints, address complex social issues, and strengthen ties between international audiences At Moondance, you can come together with film audiences, filmmakers, writers, directors, producers, actors, agents, and composers to create new opportunities, develop tools for success and forge new alliances within the international film and entertainment industry.

“Within the global entertainment industry, film, television, stage and radio actors are the public representatives of all people, and should come in all genders, sizes, colors, ethnic backgrounds, ages, locations, abilities, and appearances; not just young, white, male, and physically attractive.” ~ EE

FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

Let’s make a splash!

You are cordially invited to volunteer to help out at the film festival!

• Another great way to make this film festival even more successful is to contact your social media, organizations, blog, website & mailing list/ colleagues right now about the upcoming Moondance event & strongly recommend that they attend, too! Let’s fill those theater seats!

MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS

~ FIRST IMPRESSIONS: ~

TITLES & LOGLINES WORKSHOP

Presented by Elizabeth English

Wednesday, September 9th

Noon-2:PM • Limited to 10 attendees

Hotel Boulderado • Corner Bar Loft

“You’ve got 5 minutes; pitch me what you’ve got.” That’s what the entertainment industry producers, directors, actors & agents, the real movers & shakers, will tell you. But to get that first meeting or even a reply to your query letter, you need an interesting, attention-getting & unique title and logline for your script, story or film. Elizabeth has developed a sure-fire method for quickly finding that great, eye-catching title, and a sizzling short logline to go with it. You’ll end up with a great title & logline, and knowing how to “dress” your scripts, stories or films for that all-important first impression, and…success!

MORE HAPPY MOONDANCERS WRITE US:

• “I just wanted to drop you a short note of appreciation of your advice and kind responses to my piece, “Victor”. I was really happy to make the semi-finalist list, thank you!! I can only imagine how thrilled the finalists and ultimate winners were. Thank you for putting on the competition, and in particular the helpful, personal and engaged response you gave me. There are plenty of discouragements in this process to overcome and continue overcoming, it goes with the territory, but the encouragement that you and your contest has given me, has been priceless.” Tony Heaver-Wren, Cayman Islands

• “There’s no doubt that the Moondance is an important and fun event. Wishing you all the success in the world!” ~ Janice Garden Macdonald, award-winning author & screenwriter, environmental conservationist, Canada

• “Thanks so much for recognizing my music video, I am Gone. It means so much to me to know that it will be seen and that the message came across. Congratulations to everyone who made your selections. Thanks for all the wonderful work you do!” ~ Andie Naar, USA

• “I’m a finalist in the Film Score category for the 2015 Moondance International Film Festival, for EP, The Aftermath of a Silent Storm. I really want to thank you. I’m very excited at being finalist in the Film Score category at such a well-known film festival.” ~ Simon-Gabriel Auger, Canada

• “Set in the beautiful foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the Moondance International Film Festival is a breath of fresh air – especially for those who feel their more soulful writings and productions are shunted aside by the mainstream festivals. Moondance awards not those films with the most car crashes and mayhem, but those with the courage to show nonviolent heroism and nurturing values. And they award the best screenplays, short stories, stageplays, scripts for TV episodes, children’s stories, and even music scores and libretti. It’s an opportunity to get the recognition and exposure you deserve. In contrast to the more glitzy festivals that originate in the macho world of power and money, the Moondance festival reaches for that soul connection — people writing stories or making movies that make a difference.” ~ Arthur Kanegis, Baja California, Mexico / READ MORE:

MOONDANCER NEWS:

• Sonya Lea, 2015 Moondance winner for her short film, Every Beautiful Thing, will be at a book-signing for her memoirs, Wondering Who You Are, in Seattle, September 11. Her book has also gotten an Editor’s Pick on Oprah! Sonya and the film’s composer, Trey Gunn, also a 2015 winner for his film score for Every Beautiful Thing, will be at Moondance for the film screening, their Q&A, and the networking parties, too.

• About the Calypso Award (named after Jacques Cousteau’s ship): This award is to recognize, encourage & reward a spirit of enterprise in saving the environment, habitats and wildlife by dedicated and creative individuals from around the world. The award is presented annually to the person who expands knowledge of our world, seeks to improve our quality of all life on the planet, inspires others, and actively contributes to the betterment of humankind and the natural world.

• Finally revealed: Who is the artist who designed the Moondance Mermaid logo back in 1999, when the Moondance was founded? Answer: Our festival founder & executive director, Elizabeth English.

The annual Moondance international Film Festival event is where you can have the best opportunity to network with colleagues, audiences, filmmakers, writers, composers, distribution executives, talent agents, international film industry celebrities & execs, and to promote your project or film industry services!

Moondance provides a substantive and transformative alternative to all those sound bites, and the distortions spun out by the corporate media. Our films, written works and music reinforce our belief that for those talented artists, our film festival audiences, and for many of you, the annual Moondance International Film Festival & competition, with our mandate for integrity, the highest quality, and our important mission, is an essential part of a creative and progressive future.

“Oh my goodness gracious, thank you so much! I’m over the Moon! (You must get that a lot, sorry, but I really am) This was the competition I most wanted to win because I love your ethos, beauty, and spirit of sincerity and joy. Thank you for selecting my script ‘Flappers’ as the only finalist in the TV Pilot category. I did a happy-1920s Flappers-Charleston-dance!” ~ Kristina Day, UK

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only by night.” ~ Edgar Allan Poe

“You’ve got 5 minutes; pitch me what you’ve got.” That’s what the entertainment industry producers, directors, actors & agents, the real movers & shakers, will tell you. But to get that first meeting or even a reply to your query letter, you need an interesting, attention-getting & unique title and logline for your script, story or film. Elizabeth has developed a sure-fire method for finding that great, eye-catching title, and a sizzling short logline to go with it. You’ll end up with a great title & logline, and knowing how to “dress” your scripts or films for that all-important first impression and success!

“All true communication, even between two people speaking the same language, requires translation. In the end, our hearts must hear what cannot be spoken.” ~ Takashi Matsuoka, author, “Cloud of Sparrows”

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Howlin’ Wolf

“When we let ourselves see only what we expect to see, we merely view the contents of our own minds, and miss what is truly before us.” ~ Takashi Matsuoka, author, “Cloud of Sparrows”

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Tianmen Winding Highway, Hunan Province, China

“If you want to succeed, you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel only the worn paths of accepted success.” ~ John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

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“Take a moment to ask yourself if you’re on track with you. Now is the time to take responsibility for your own life and to love yourself enough to take the action required. Take responsibility for what you are doing. You are the captain of your own ship. You can do it for you.” ~ Amy Lyndon, acting coach, The Lyndon Technique

Invitation to the 2015 Moondance International Film Festival

~ Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows ~

Moondance International Film Festival

September 7th & 8th, 2015

Beautiful Boulder, Colorado USA

The annualMoondance international Film Festivalevent is where you can see the very best of specially-selected US & international feature films, documentary films, short films, animation films, & music videos films, and have the best opportunity to network with colleagues, audiences, filmmakers, writers, composers, distribution executives, talent agents, international film industry celebrities & execs, at our famously productive networking parties, and to promote your project or film industry services!

“I have been absolutely thrilled and over the MOON to have been awarded a finalist placing in the 2015 Moondance competition! And already, yes, already inquiries have been made by an interested party about my screenplay ‘Devonside’. I will keep you guys posted. I have been a firm and faithful follower of Moondance for the past five years. I have yet to find a film festival as supportive, encouraging, and committed to their ‘people’ than the director and her team at Moondance. I look forward to the day when I can meet you in person, give you a huge hug and say ‘Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.’ Elizabeth English you rock !!“~ Craig Gibson

Congratulations, 2015 Moondance written works winners & top finalists! Your winning work can be posted at Inktip.com for free, as an extra Moondance bonus. I have sent the list of this season’s winners & top finalists to InkTip.com. Liz Rivera, of InkTip, will contact you via email to let you know the special code to have your 2015 Moondance-selected work on their website, at no cost to you. I highly recommend this popular & well-respected website for getting your script seen by many US & international producers, directors and agents who are looking for very the best work available today. Please be on the lookout for this important InkTip email!

Summer is the time of plenty for native pollinators, but creating pollinator habitat in your yard or garden means more than summer blooms. Summer flowers are great, but they are not enough to sustain healthy pollinator populations. Fortunately, it’s not difficult to create a pollinator paradise. This is a conservation initiative where you can create important habitat with just a small strip of plants in your backyard or garden or back porch (even one pot of flowering plants can create vital habitat). If you plant pollinatorfriendly plants, the pollinators will find it. Really. It’s that simple. How do you ensure that pollinators have healthy food, a place to nest and livable conditions?

When you begin planting, the key is to plant a diversity of plants that flower at different times of year. You are creating a seasonlong feast. Having a variety of flowers ensures these creatures can make it through the year.

We often associate bee nests with hives. But 70% of native bees nest in the ground. They dig little burrows that are used for rearing their young. Leaving a bare spot of earth near your pollinator garden can take care of most of the bee’s life needs in a small area. Many native bee species do not move very far. Bumble bees can cover longer distances (up to two miles). Many species only travel a few hundred feet or less.

In the popular media, pollinator conservation is all about honey bees. While the honey bee – and its sweet product – is easy to love, it is only one on a large list of pollinating insects. And it is not the most effective. There are some 4,ooo native bees in America, – a veritable pollinating army. Add to that pollinating wasps, butterflies, moths, birds, bats and more. So when you’re thinking pollinator habitat, go beyond the honey bee!

Don’t spray! The uses of neonicotinoids are not protecting agricultural crops – they’re used purely for cosmetic purposes around yards and residential developments. Even if you spray your yard but not your pollinator habitat, the pesticides can drift and kill feeding or nesting bees. These insects provide millions of dollars in ecosystem services each year by pollinating agricultural crops, and are a key component of wildlife ecosystems.

The Xerces Society is an organization devoted to conservation that has much more incredibly useful information on creating pollinator habitat! (Excerpts from an online article at the Nature Conservancy)

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Babe Ruth at bat

“Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving your goal, and staying with that plan.” ~ Tom Landry

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Oak tree at dawn, photo by www.alexnail.com

“I am not what happened to me; I am what I choose to become.” ~Carl Jung

The annual Moondance international Film Festival event is where you can have the best opportunity to network with colleagues, audiences, filmmakers, writers, composers, distribution executives, talent agents, international film industry celebrities & execs, and to promote your project or film industry services!

You are cordially invited to volunteer to help out at the film festival! All volunteers can earn free regular movie tickets for hours worked. Contact Meghan at: melaxton@hotmail.com

With “MIFF volunteer” in the subject line

VERY HAPPY 2015 MOONDANCERS WRITE US

“We here at Jim French Productions, Inc. were thrilled to learn this morning that the writers for our production: “The Beast of Hyndford” (a Sherlock Holmes full-cast audio drama pastiche) have been selected as winners in the Audio Drama Script category. Iain McLaughlin and Claire Bartlett (both in Scotland) and John Patrick Lowrie (here in Seattle, WA) are valuable contributing talent to our production company and to see them acknowledged so outside of the audio drama field is gratifying. Everyone we work with, from actors to writers to technicians are exceptional and make us what we are. We can’t thank you enough for the award and one of our representatives will be at Boulder this year to accept for them at the awards ceremony. Many thanks, “ ~ Jim French

“Thank you so much for advancing my script “CORNELIUS AND WILLOW” to the finals!! You have made my dreams come true!! Thank you! Blessings and Good Karma to you!!” ~ Melissa White

“Upon learning that my script “THE ASCENSION OF TWYLA POTTS” had won the 2015 Moondance International Film Festival, I did what any adult would do; I leapt about the room like a six-year-old in a tutu. I am honored to have received this prestigious award, and want to thank Elizabeth English for her enthusiastic and timely responses to all of my questions. What a rarity. And because of this festival, my work will finally receive the kind of professional exposure I have always dreamed of. The Moondance International Film Festival is, without question, the best!” ~ Fred Perry

“I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to learn that my audio drama script “5 LEVELS OF FEAR” is a winner in this year’s festival. What an honor. And a finalist spot for “Blue Velvet Box.” I’m over the moon! Moondance, although a film festival, is starting to get noticed by the audio drama community as a festival that is friendly to those of us who prefer to write and produce for the full-cast, fully sound-scaped spoken word. What an honor to be tapped by Moondance for a win. I look forward to meeting and talking with people at this year’s festival.” ~ Sable Jak

“I’m thrilled that “Hell’s Angel” was a winner for short screenplay!! We are hoping to raise the funds and shoot it this autumn. The award will really help with that, so THANK YOU!!” ~ Lou Hamilton, writer, director, producer, UK

“I am so honored to have been chosen as one of your winners in the 2015 Moondance! The feature screenplay I wrote, UNACCOMPANIED MINOR (Logline: A man accidentally uncovers a pedophilia ring and goes on the run with a young sex worker in order to save her life. Inspired by a true story.), will be greatly benefited by this prestigious win. It is inspired by the real life story of Rob Waterlander, and his efforts to bring awareness to child trafficking via airlines. Again, thank you so much for selecting my screenplay – what an amazing feeling it is!” ~ Kitania Kavey, the Netherlands

“I want to let you know how much your encouragement has meant to me. So many people have told me no one will ever produce the movie, because it’s a period piece with a female protagonist, ViCTORIA OF MURRAY HILL, and it won’t make money. Your belief in the project has kept me revising, trying to get the script as good as it can be. Who knows when the tides might turn.” ~ Kate Parks

“I just wanted to say a huge and heartfelt ‘thank you’ for the award being given to “The Beast of Hyndford” in the audio drama category. Claire Bartlette and I are both hugely surprised, delighted and very honoured. We became aware of the festival and the awards through Imagination Theater. In the past – and again this year – at Moondance you have highlighted the work of some remarkable storytellers who have told and continue to tell extraordinary stories. Claire and I are honoured to be alongside their number this year. We just wanted to send a heartfelt thank you to you and everyone involved for this honour. It means a great deal to us.” ~ Iain McLaughlin, Scotland

At Moondance International Film Festival, we look for documentary films that entertain, inform, inspire, encourage and educate. We believe that films can contribute to a healthier society, and that films should encourage the active involvement of audiences to connect and act collectively to address global challenges. Moondance screens doc films that are innovative, distinctive, compelling, educational, engaging, and relevant to varied audiences, and which encourage active participation.

Our film programs are always well rounded, entertaining, and enlightening, highlighting diverse cultures, opinions, and stories. We welcome individual expression and are committed to presenting diverse points of view. Moondance aims to entertain, increase awareness, provide multiple viewpoints, address complex social issues, provide forums for deliberation, and strengthen ties between a large variety of international audiences.

Some thoughts for doc filmmakers from a film festival director who selects which films are selected for screening at the festival:

Go easy on the “talking heads” interviews! Please, please, please shoot the interviewee(s) in various situations, not just sitting straight on to the camera and talking, talking, talking. Take them outside, in their homes or workplaces, interacting with others, and with different reactions and emotions evident. Show, don’t just tell. Film is, of course, a visual medium, and needs great visuals to make it successful. Do a lot of voice-overs with varied images of the subject matter at hand. People relate to, and remember more of, what they’ve seen, than what they’ve heard.

Get a good, friendly, persuasive interviewer, especially if you’re the cinematographer. Allow yourself or the interviewer to have a part in the film. When you or the interviewer ask the interviewee a question, or comment on/respond to what they’ve said, consider getting in the frame! The interviewer should be considered as a secondary, but vital, element in the film, since the audience will also identify with the interviewer, and relate to him or her, as well as to the person or persons being interviewed.

After the shoot, remember to set a mic in the same empty room(s) or outside area(s) for an hour, and capture soft ambient sounds to lay in to the film during post. Wind blowing, car horns, footsteps walking by, vehicles going past, birds chirping, airplanes flying overhead, a dog barking, a phone ringing, and so on. A dull, silent, unchanging aural atmosphere is deadly and “feels” stuffy, airless, lifeless, claustrophobic, and unreal, even if there’s an underlying musical film score.

Add an appropriate and memorable music score! Think of your short or feature doc film as if it were a narrative film.

Film editing should be invisible, and must transition and flow easily and logically from scene to scene.

Lighting and sound should be of the same quality and tone, throughout the film, as much as is possible.

Start late and end early! Edit your doc film to be as short as possible, while still getting the salient point or points across. Don’t duplicate scenes and responses from interviewees. We get it, already! Move along. Use only the very best filmed segments to tell your story.

Peaceable Kingdom, directed by Jenny Stein

Some of our most popular recent doc films screened at Moondance were on such unique & varied subjects of Lyme disease, free-diving with killer whales, traditional reindeer herding in Finland, the mistreatment & saving of farm animals, breast cancer recovery, 9/11 conspiracy, saving the rainforests, traditional arts in China, the Gulf War, and crop circles in the UK, for just a few examples. Each film, and all doc films selected over the years have had a story; a clear beginning, middle and end, as well as a protagonist and antagonist(s), much as good screenplays and narrative films must have, to be successful.

“Lights, camera, and…action!”

By
Elizabeth English

When judges preview films for film festival competitions, or when distributors look at films they may decide to screen in theaters, or during Academy Award nomination season, or when a talent agent may decide to take you on as a client, or when a production company or film studio is watching your demo reel or trailer, and considering you to direct a film, the actors’ performances are one of the most important elements they look for in the film. You may have a unique story, the best cinematographer, incredible editing, memorable film score, interesting locations, fabulous action scenes, great dialog, and impressive production values, but…if any of the actors, not just the lead actors, fluff a scene, or are wooden, over-act, are amateurish, or are simply unremarkable in their roles, you’ve just lost all credibility as a film director, and you may not ever get a second chance.

Directing a feature or short film, commercial, animation, trailer, music video, or television pilot requires an extraordinary output of time, energy, patience, and talent. You owe it to yourself, and to the success of the film project, to get the richest, most realistic, relatable performances possible. Directing actors is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, aspects in the array of creative tasks that await any film director.

You’ll need to know how to constructively and efficiently collaborate with actors to create truthful and compelling, natural performances. Unlike the creative process of writing a script or generating shot-lists and storyboards, actors are mutable, unpredictable, and you can’t completely plan their performances in a film, but you can direct them toward the performance you envision for the role.

Most film directors (even seasoned veterans) just don’t seem to know how to talk to actors – they often don’t speak a language that is useful to them. You need to learn a new language, which enables you, as the director, to give the actor a clear point of departure for a performance, and which allows you to quickly communicate adjustments, as that performance evolves, yet also allows the actor his or her interpretation of the character and scene, but based on what you and the script require.

This is a directorial process that begins by articulating a “through-line” – a concise statement that captures a director’s interpretation of the script, into language that will help the actors build their performances, and establish a productive working relationship between actor and director. You want the actors to “quit acting” and just BE the characters, tapping in to emotions which the actor has experienced in her/his own life and applying it to the scene. No hitting their marks and just reading their lines!

Directing actors for film is much different from directing actors for the stage. Because a stage has 3 walls, and the audience sits at the fourth “wall”, seeing and hearing everything on the stage, and everything the actors do or say, as it occurs, there can be no multiple takes, no do-overs Larger gestures and more visible facial expressions, as well as throwing one’s voice to the back of the balcony, are needed in theater, but not in film. Subtlety is best. Watch how great actors project, with subtle gestures, minimal facial expressions, breathing techniques, and quiet body language: Anthony Hopkins, Meryl Streep, Steve McQueen, James Dean, Donald Pleasence, Rod Steiger, Judi Dench & Maggie Smith.

One might consider the talented actor as a visual story-teller, a creator of visions who can transport movie audiences out of their habitual ways of being, create an atmosphere of “suspension of disbelief,” and who leads them on a journey of self-discovery and possibly new perceptions. Personal magnetism and charisma, intense body awareness, voice control, and great sensitivity are among the special abilities that contribute to the actor’s mystique, and a film director can encourage and inspire the actor to bring this out in performance.

But with film, many takes of the same scene can be shot until the director is happy with that scene. An actor must be capable of accommodating this arduous and frustrating process, and to be able to make adjustments in his or her characterizations, over and over, without complaint.

The camera can move to different viewpoints, can do a two-shot, a close-up, or a crowd scene, or action outdoors, and even use a parkour technique, by following the actor(s) for several minutes moving through a location sequence. With a roughly a 22’ tall X 52’ wide movie screen, actors can use much more subtle facial expressions, especially in close-ups, simpler body movements and gestures, and with lower, more modulated voices. A twitch of an eyebrow, or a tiny smirk can easily be seen by the audience, unlike on stage. A good film actor will be aware of this.

As a director, if you’re auditioning actors, working with non-professional actors, or interviewing subjects for a documentary, you may need to remind them to pay extra attention to their total body language in a scene, tone of voice, and facial expressions, to get a realistic characterization from them. In narrative and documentary filmmaking, actors & interview subjects generally need to move a bit more slowly than normal (but not too slowly) through a scene, in order for the camera to focus and catch the image, and not cause the audiences to feel they are being forced to visually follow the scene too quickly.

Acting is reacting. Reacting with what is already known, and can be, should be, brought into the role’s characterization from the actor’s and director’s own life experiences and personal observations, as well as by what the particular role requires, of course.

As a director, you should know all there is to know about filmmaking: cinematography, editing, production, lighting, sound, screenwriting, and etc., and that, of course, includes acting. Perhaps you can audition for a film, TV show or stageplay, and if you get the part, even as a non-speaking extra, you’ll gain valuable inside, working experience on the set or on location. You need to study the art and craft of acting, stage, television and film acting, especially improv, and consider learning to be an actor, yourself, in order to understand actors and to communicate with them, and most effectively bring out the best performances from your actors.

Being fearless & bold, Moondance is a film festival where monotonous conformity is considered mediocrity, and extravagant individualism, innovation, uniqueness and experimentation is encouraged, awarded and applauded!

Moondance International Film Festival dates:

September 7th & 8th, 2015

Boulder, Colorado USA

Check out the links below for 2015 competition results & other info!

Moondance is known as the “American Cannes” of film festivals, and features the very best of indie films from the US and around the world, as well as our fabulously productive workshops, networking parties & special events. Come to be entertained, encouraged and inspired at this annual world-class event! Plan now to participate in this unique film festival event: September 7th & 8th, in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, USA, and help us celebrate the 16th annual Moondance International Film Festival!

FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

You are cordially invited to volunteer to help out at the film festival!

Special Event Double Feature: Two must-see revolutionary documentary films , presented by Moondance, Boulder’s #1 international film festival, in conjunction with the 16th annual film festival films & events, : “I Am” directed by Tom Shadyac, and, as a free bonus, “The World is My Country” by award-winning director Arthur Kanegis, including a Q&A with the director immediately after each film screening. And a free networking after-party at the Hotel Boulderado’s new License #1 bar & lounge, 10:PM until midnight! This networking party is OYO (On Your Own, no tickets required). http://www.moondancefilmfestival.com

Sandboy

Monday, September 7th, 7:PM

Hotel Boulderado • Columbine Theater

Short narrative film, directed by Vittoria Colonna (IRELAND, c& executive-produced by Julian Lennon (USA). In a sleepy Californian desert, sits an abandoned junkyard, an abandoned RV and an abandoned young woman haunted by a secret. Award-winning film score by Hugh Rodgers. The director & the lead actor, Wallis Murphy-Munn , will be in attendance, with possibly Julian Lennon, son of John Lennon & Yoko Ono.(23 minutes)

“SANDBOY”, directed by Vittoria Colonna

INDIGO GREY: The Passage

Monday, September 7th, 7:PM

Hotel Boulderado • Columbine Theater

Shirt narrative music video, directed by: Sean Robinson (USA). A young boy’s discovery of a mysterious gas mask provides a glimpse into an alternate reality. Featuring America’s Got Talent’s ‘Hammerstep’ a traditional Irish/hip-hop dance troupe, and nine-year-old prodigy Aidan Lok, who has a first degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and has won over 100 medals from international karate tournaments, and original score by Evanescence’s Amy Lee. (6 minutes)

INDIGO GREY: THE PASSAGE

Special Double-Feature Screenings!:

Tuesday, September 8th, 7:PM

Hotel Boulderado • Alpine Theater

Food for Thought, Food for Life

Short documentary film, directed by Multi-award-winning Susan Rockefeller (USA). We want our food fast, convenient and cheap, but at what cost? As farms become supersized our environment suffers and so does the quality of our food.

Our Common Roots

Feature documentary film, directed by Glenn Axford (Canada). This film speaks to the therapeutic and energetic qualities of medicinal plants of the forest, field and garden. Reconnecting with the intelligence of the plant kingdom, and our global healing traditions.

MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS

Join the Elephant Stampede!

World Elephant Daywas Wednesday, August 12, and this year we had something BIG to celebrate! President Obama recently introduced a proposal to ban ivory sales in the United States. Once enacted, this ban will close loopholes that have allowed smugglers to disguise ivory from recently killed elephants and sell them as antiques in the U.S. It will send a clear message that America is serious about shutting down the ivory trade and saving elephants. But the president’s proposal isn’t law yet. The administration is collecting public comments for 60 days and you can bet that opponents of the ivory ban (yes, there are people who oppose this common sense regulation) will be vocal. We need voices in support of the ban to #BeHerd.

Earlier this year, theWildlife Conservation Societyworked with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to investigate the ivory trade on Craigslist. But there’s more work to be done. Talk about a big statement! Recently, elephants and other endangered species lit up New York City, appearing on the side of the Empire State Building!

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe. ~ Marilyn vos Savant

Our mission is to present a vibrant and growing collection of films, writings & music, which is an ideal means for communication across perceived boundaries of race, culture, age and gender. Moondance promotes, encourages, educates and rewards non-violent conflict resolution in the arts and film. Our much-coveted Columbine Awards are given to the filmmakers and/or writers who best depict alternatives to violence as a method of dealing with conflicts, whether personal, local, national or international, and/or show why violence as a solution to conflict is ultimately counter-productive and inhumane.READ MORE

Our objective is to identify and address the root causes of violence and contribute to the just and peaceful transformation of violent conflict resolution, through the art of film, writings & music. The core of conflict transformation work is the building of a sustainable peace between all people. This involves a process of profound change in attitude, transforming situations characterized by fear and killing into environments in which reconciliation, respect for other people, social justice and participatory democracy can take root.READ MORE

A MOONDANCER WRITES US

“Thank you, Elizabeth, for your wonderfully helpful advice (on improving my screenplay). I agree that the reading experience, compared to the first iteration, is like chalk and cheese – so thank you! I can’t thank you enough for your care, attention and advice. It’s a privilege to be a part of your wonderful contest!” ~ Tony Heaver-Wren, screenwriter, Cayman Islands

“The most efficient way of attacking evil is to expose it to ridicule. It can bear rebukes, but not laughter. It doesn’t mind appearing wicked, but it hates to look ridiculous.” ~ Moliere(translated & edited for clarity)

“People who say it can’t be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” ~ Stephen Klasko & Richard W. Hevner, Thomas Jefferson University

MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS:

Story Jars encourage imagination and provide great fun for adults and children. A perfect gift for parents, grandparents and children! So many children these days spend too much time alone, surfing the web & on social media. The Story Jar comes with interesting and fun objects, including shells, toy animals and an assortment of curiosities that can be the basis of real or imaginary stories. In short, you have an “open book” of ideas that you can invent together. We provide the “starter kit”, which includes the Story Jar itself, plus about a third of a jar worth of interesting items. But the real excitement comes for both of you when you add some of the trinkets and little memorabilia from your own life.

It’s perfect for personal and family stories you may want to pass down from generation to generation. Start by picking one item from the jar and say, “Once Upon a Time…” which sets the mood for the story. There is nothing like a Story Jar to bring the stories to life! It’s perfect for personal and family stories that you may want to pass down from generation to generation. The kids love it, the parents love it and it’s something the young ones will remember and look forward to. And someday, they can pass it along to their kids and grand-kids. A genuine family legacy.

There is nothing like a Story Jar to bring those great stories to life! This is also great for teachers, libraries and the therapeutic community, all of whom see Story Jars as a valuable additional tool for learning & self-expression. READ MORE

Treating disease with healing foods is certainly not a new idea; it has been done for many thousands of years. Now science and medicine have made amazing discoveries regarding the healing power of these natural foods and plants. Healthful, readily available and inexpensive natural, organic healing foods can strengthen your body’s defenses against disease, treat disease directly, and even slow down the aging process. All without expensive and potentially toxic prescription medicines & over-the-counter medications.

The underlying cause of many common diseases is often the type of foods we eat on a regular basis, or foods we neglect to eat. Studies show that people who eat a lot of refined carbohydrates, animal fats, and a lot of animal protein are at much greater risk of developing diseases and a shorter, less healthy lifespan. Read more at:http://www.foods-healing-power.com/

There are times when it’s much smarter to use an herbal remedy than a pharmaceutical. For example, an herbal remedy usually offers a safer alternative. Archaeological evidence indicates that the use of medicinal plants, essential oils, herbal extracts, spices, tinctures andherbal teas for healing dates to at least thePaleolithic, approximately 60,000 years ago. Written evidence of herbal remedies, such as ayurvedic remedies, can date back to over 5,000 years.

Native Americans have medicinally used about 2,500 plant species that are native to North America. Many herbs have beneficial effects on long-term health, and can be used to effectively treat human diseases. Few traditional remedies, however, have translated into modern drugs, although there is continuing research into the efficacy and possible adaptation of traditional herbal treatments.

Here are just a few of these common herbal remedies one can utilize, instead of prescription drugs: aloe vera, basil, chamomile, ginger, ginseng, kelp, lavender, marijuana, quinine, rosemary, tumeric & valerian. If you are taking prescription drugs, be sure to check online or with your doctor if there might be any adverse reactions when combining the two.

A young northern saw-whet owl stands on Rainbow Lakes Road near Nederland on July 21 as Boulder County sheriff’s Deputy Sophie Berman takes a photo. The photos of the small, fuzzy owl photo & video taken by the sheriff’s office have gone viral. Watch the YouTube video here. A fluffy little owlphotographed and videotaped last week staring down a Boulder County sheriff’s deputy outside Nederland has become a worldwide Internet star, with the pint-sized bird appearing all over social media and on the websites ofTime,Mashable, the U.K.’sDaily Mailand many more. Read theDaily Cameraarticle, by Mitchell Byars, Staff Writer

Being fearless, Moondance is where monotonous conformity is considered mediocrity, and extravagant individualism, innovation, uniqueness and experimentation is encouraged, awarded and applauded!

Thanks again, for all the very fine submissions received. Sending your work out into the world is a true act of bravery, and we certainly appreciate your leap of faith. Announcements of winners, finalists & semi-finalists, as well as the film-screening program of selected films, will be made in August.

Subscribe now to theMoondance news-blogto receive announcements, and the 2015 competition results, as soon as all the submissions have been previewed, and selection decisions have been made. Our very popular news-blog also has festival event info, entertainment industry news, insider tips & articles, recommendations, things to consider & more!

“The Moondance Festival I helped with was one of the most enjoyable experiences in my life. I am an actor and I had so much fun as an emcee, guiding, helping at a table, and attending a dinner. I was also a part of the CASA group that performed for a small audience in one of the theatres that year. Thank you for all that you are doing to promote such talented and creative people. My husband Lynn and I would love to volunteer again for the 2015 festival. ~ Lee Nicholson

You’re getting your work out there, and people are asking to read your material. You’ve sent it in to them. Congratulations, you’re on the path to success. So, what do you do now, sit back and wait for the offers to roll in?Read this article to learn more!

Moondance note on how NOT to follow up: It’s best not to call, text or email someone who has asked to see your work, or when you’ve submitted it to a competition, to put him or her on the spot by asking the 3 dreaded questions, “Did you get my (script, films, music, etc.)?” and “Did you (read it, watch it, listen to it?” or worst of all, “Did you like it?”. Don’t even think about it!

ATTENTION, WOMEN WRITERS!

MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS:

Hedgebrook is a global community of women writers and people who seek extraordinary books, poetry, plays, films and music by women. A literary nonprofit, our mission is to support visionary women writers whose stories and ideas shape our culture now and for generations to come. We offer writing residencies, master classes and salons at our retreat on Whidbey Island, and public programs that connect writers with readers and audiences around the world. Hedgebrook offers a variety of ways for women writers to create and connect:www.hedgebrook.org

Six writers are in residence at a time, each housed in a handcrafted cottage. They spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, they gather in the farmhouse kitchen to share a home-cooked gourmet meal, their work, their process and their stories. Applications are due by July 28th!www.hedgebrook.org/writers-in-residence/

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

Photo by: miriadna.com

“Cease to ask what the morrow will bring forth. Set down as a gain each day that fortune grants to you.” ~ Eudora Welty

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photo by ‪www.volusia.org

“If you would be wise, you must adapt yourself to circumstances, as water always shapes itself to the container that holds it.” ~ Ancient Chinese Proverb

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‪Photo by misskarenmarquez.edublogs.org

“Life is the perpetual present moment one lives in, and a perception that time is nothing more than the current…an eternal flowing back to the sea.” ~William Least Heat-Moon, author, “River Horse”

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“When we are out of alignment with ourselves, it is mirrored immediately – when we are in harmony with ourselves, the world reflects that, too. Accept the lessons offered, and return to serenity.” ~ Lynne Forrest

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“I am not what happened to me; I am what I choose to become.” ~ Carl Jung

Take a look inside the Moondance photo album! (Click below)

A listing of your script on InkTip so that producers and reps can find you. InkTip helps writers sell their scripts and get representation. Producers have made more than 200 films from scripts and writers they found through InkTip!

STUDIO-TYPE COVERAGE OF YOUR SCRIPT OR FILM! Ready to get your screenplay or film on the right track?

Moondancer Endorsement!

I was contacted by a sales company, Circus Road Films and by a distribution company named Silverline Entertainment. Both found my film on the Moondance roster and requested a screener, which I sent them. One of the things I liked reading about Moondance is your investment not only in the festival itself, but in helping filmmakers get through industry doors - which has been tough, to say the least. Thanks for curating an important and much-needed festival. As a woman director, the added hurdles I face daily can feel insurmountable, and your work keeps women like me going. ~ Ela Their, director, “Tomorrow Ever After”, screening at Moondance 2016

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